Byron Castillo is the centre of investigation from FIFA
FIFA are investigating if Ecuador midfielder Byron Castillo is eligible to play for the country, following claims from Chile that he shouldn't have featured for the South American nation.
The Chilean Football Federation recently asked FIFA to investigate if Castillo is in fact Colombian, therefore making him unable to feature for Ecuador in World Cup qualifers.
The Chilean Football Federation claimed that Castillo used false documents
Chile claimed last week that they had proof that the full back was born in Tumaco, Colombia in 1995, and not in the Ecuadorian city of General Villamil Playas in 1998 as it says on his official documents. They have claimed that Castillo used a false passport and documents.
The complaint comes just a month after Ecuador were drawn in Group A of the World Cup, where they will go up against host nation Qatar as well as the Netherlands and Senegal.
A statement from FIFA at the time of the complaint said: "FIFA can confirm that it has received a formal complaint from the Chilean FA in relation to this matter."
Although no official date has been decided on any potential disciplinary action, if found guilty, Ecuador could be kicked out of the World Cup, with Chile believing that they should take their place, despite finishing seventh in the South American qualifying table.
This is because they claim that if results featuring Ecuador are declared null and void, then Chile would finish in the qualifying spots.
Ecuador have denied the claims after the Chilean FA launched an official complaint
However the Chilean FA have now confirmed that a formal investigation process is now underway. A statement from them said: "As recently confirmed by FIFA, the Chilean Football Association has lodged a complaint with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in which it made a series of allegations concerning the possible falsification of documents granting Ecuadorian nationality to the player Byron David Castillo Segura, as well as the possible illegibility of the said player to participate in eight qualifying matches of the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
"Bearing the above in mind, FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the potential illegibility of Byron David Castillo Segura with regard to the above-mentioned matches.
"In this context, the FEF and the Peruvian Football Association have been invited to submit their positions to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
"Further details will follow in due course."
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The Ecuadorian FA meanwhile have denied the allegations and say that Castillo is definitely of Ecuadorian nationality.
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